there's no such thing as "saving money" when it comes to buying an old boat and fixing it up.

I beg to differ - I've restored a couple of boats for cheaper than what it would have cost to buy what I ended up with. Doing all or nearly all the work yourself and judicious bargain hunting are the keys to doing it successfully. Consignment stores and Craigslist are your best friends when doing it. Buying when it's cheap and/or available, not when you need it helps a lot as well. If you just pay retail "marine" prices for every little thing brand new, no way can you do it.

Quote:

How many 1930s or 1940s boat can you think of, amongst the people you can think of that sail? Safe to say not many.

If they had fiberglass boats and aluminium spars back then it would be a very different story methinks.

I, myself, personally intend to continue being outspoken and opinionated, intolerant of all fanatics, fools and ignoramuses, deeply suspicious of all those who have "found the answer" and on my bad days, downright rude.

The key is to find a boat that is not a wreck. There's a sweet spot. But, just like cars, new boats lose value once they are driven (sailed) off the lot.

Just a rough back-of-the-envelope is that a new Jenneau 42DS has lost about a third of its value in the first 5 years. New they are somewhere around $275K and the asking price for a 2007 model is now something like $200K (and probably getting, at best $180K).

Compare that to a 1985 Whitby 42 I saw on Yachtworld for $55K. Probably in sailable shape. Surely needs some work, but even if you're putting $30K into it, you're still way ahead of the game.

Completely different boats? Absolutely. So, that's a caveat. But my feeling is that a 2007 Jenneau 42DS is a lot like a 2007 Toyota Corolla. Will it get you there? Yep. Does anybody seek out a five year old Corolla? Nope. The Whitby, on the other hand is a classic. It's already lost all the value it's going to lose. If you maintain it, you're not going to lose much on the sale - maybe even, God forbid, break even. Twenty years from now someone will still be seeking out a good example of a "classic" Whitby, but in the same time frame, I suspect the Jeanneau 42DS will be long forgotten.

Then I heard a muffled sound. My dad was panicking that the water was rushing in and there was no sign of me or the wire. I fumbled around and found the end and he grabbed it. He was pulling so fast I was doing everything I could to make sure it didn't knot. Finally the new transducer was seated and the flooding stopped.

When I got out of the water my head was still pounding. Of course my dad had no idea he almost blew my eardrums out.- JulieMor

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S/V Haleakala (Hawaiian for" House of the Sun")
C&C 35 MKIII Hull # 76
Parkville, Maryland
(photos by Joe McCary)
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“Sailing is just the bottom line, like adding up the score in bridge. My real interest is in the tremendous game of life.”- Dennis Conner

For those of you who have made the plunge and bought an older boat, what has been your experience? What are the pitfalls? What have you had to pay for and what have you been to fix yourselves? And what boats really hold up that long?

Three years ago I bought a 1966 Pearson Triton. The previous owner had it for 13 years and did some pretty extensive restoration work. I've had no problems with it... Well, none that were not of my own doing

I recently decided that I wanted something a little bigger so I bought a "newer" boat, a 1986 Catalina. A real "young 'un" at 26...

Three years ago I bought a 1966 Pearson Triton. The previous owner had it for 13 years and did some pretty extensive restoration work. I've had no problems with it... Well, none that were not of my own doing

I recently decided that I wanted something a little bigger so I bought a "newer" boat, a 1986 Catalina. A real "young 'un" at 26...

My 1960 Triton is structurally solid and I haven't done much to her other than converting her into a liveaboard boat. Had the usual breakages when I sailed her from SF to SD but other than that she's fine.

My 1960 Triton is structurally solid and I haven't done much to her other than converting her into a liveaboard boat. Had the usual breakages when I sailed her from SF to SD but other than that she's fine.

PS - Hey Steve77, do you know who bought your Triton?

I have a ton of old documentation (haven't sold the boat yet) and I'll look through it. I believe I'm the fourth owner, maybe third. Not sure off the top of my head, I'll see what I can find. It is hull #660.

Compare that to a 1985 Whitby 42 I saw on Yachtworld for $55K. Probably in sailable shape. Surely needs some work, but even if you're putting $30K into it, you're still way ahead of the game.

Having surveyed a number Whitby 42's and one that was recently listed for significantly more than 55K, I'd suggest than any Whitby in that price range is going to cost closer to 100k to make right. By "right" I mean functionally, safe and sound, not cosmetically perfect.

Be the man Sharon thinks I am - wg
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Be the master of your own disaster - wg
If you're not laughing, you're not doing it right. - wg
if you can live with the consequences, go for it. - wg
I yam what I yam an' thats all that I yam. - Popeye

I have a ton of old documentation (haven't sold the boat yet) and I'll look through it. I believe I'm the fourth owner, maybe third. Not sure off the top of my head, I'll see what I can find. It is hull #660.

Those Tritons were built to last.

I'm the fourth owner of #92 and I keep a kind of foto-record of the fleet here Pearson Triton. Would love to add your vessel.

I'm the fourth owner of #92 and I keep a kind of foto-record of the fleet here Pearson Triton. Would love to add your vessel.

That's a great site, it's nice to see those good old boats being so well cared for. I'd be happy to send you a picture of Gracie, is there a place on your site to do that? Send me a PM if you want to. My Triton was restored by the previous owner who had her for 13 years.

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